Waste container



Feb. 16, 1954 J- P. ENGLISH ET AL WASTE CONTAINER Filed Oct. 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2&1

.r 3 a 7/074 4 f J. P. ENGLISH ET AL Feb. 16, 1954 WASTE CONTAINER Filed Oct. 11, 1952 Patented Feb. 16, 1954 WASTE CONTAINER John P. English, Northbrook, and Joseph Magarinos, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 11, 1952, Serial No. 314,359

8 Claims.

This invention relates to waste containers, and more particularly to such containers which are adapted to use in places where the waste material contains inflammable substances.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved container for waste material which may be of a combustible nature, such as oily rags or the like. In numerous places, such as printing or paint shops, factories, automobile repair shops, or service stations, for example, rags are frequently used for cleaning excess oil or grease and paint from equipment or the like, and for such rags, when discarded, containers which protect the contents against accidental ignition w-hile permitting suitable aeration thereof are desirable. The present container is designed not only to reduce danger of accidental ignition'of the inflammable contents, but also to provide for ventilation of the contents, and hence the removal of readily vaporizable substances, thereby reducing the danger of spontaneous combustion where the refuse contains rapidly oxidizable oils, for example.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a container or holder fora-receptacle or receptacles for oily rags or like refuse,the container and receptacle or receptacles being so constructed and arranged as to provide for the effectual ventilation of the receptacle contents.

v, An additional object of the invention is to provide a container or holder for one or more waste receptacles and having a drip pan which is adapted to receive fluid drainage tents of the receptacles.

from the con- An additional object of the invention isto provide, in a container for waste holding receptacles, a motor operated ventilating means therefor.

Otherobjects of the invention relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent from the consideration of the followin specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

' Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view'ofa refuse holder which is illustrative of oneembodiment of the present invention;

j Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view wherein the section is taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig.3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view stantially on line 55 of Fig. 1;

ranged in four vertical banks.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 'l'l of Fig. 4 illustrating one preferred type of handle in raised position and in dotted lines showing the handle in a released or pendent position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of one of the handles of the type shown in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of a container side wall illustrating, as a modification of the abovedescribed structure, a motor operated fan for providing forced circulation of air through the container. I

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, a container or holder indicated generally by the numeral It is shown which preferably is of cylindrical construction and is provided with a removable cover ll. The cover is imperforate so as to exclude from the contents, when the cover is in position, accidentally dropped matches, cigarettes, or the like which might ignite inflammable contents of the container. The bottom l2 of the container preferably is provided with a pair of skids [3 which space the container from the floor and enable it to be readily picked up for movement by either a power or manually operated lift truck, or the like. The container body or side wall is provided with louvered openings I4 which, in the disclosed structure, are arranged in vertical rows and are of adequate area to enable relatively free cross ventilation through the container. Louvers I5 for the openings, as shown in Fig. 6, prevent lighted matches, cigarettes, or the like from being dropped accidentally into the covered container and at the same time permit free circulation of air through the container.

The openings M, as shown in Fig. 4, are ar- Disposed between adjacent banks of the louver opening are relatively imperforate wall portions it to the inner sides of which are secured, as by welding, four vertical perforate ribs or spacers H which presections [6 by clips H! which, in the present instance, are secured to the container by rivets, or spot welded thereto if desired. A shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 and in Figs. 4 and 8, the handle normally hangs in pendent position, but can be swung outwardly to the full line position shown in Fig. 7 when manually grasped, in which latter position an intermediate portion lBa engages the container wall for limiting further upward movement of the hand grip portion. The handles [8 drop to the pendent dotted line position shdfi riih Fig. 7- wh'e'n released.

The cdntaii'ier H! is designed to hold one or more receptacles or baskets into which oily rags or like refuse material may be deposited. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the container is shownwith two such baskets which are of identical construction and each designated by numeral 211. The baskets or receptacles are of foraminc'ius" con struction, preferably made :principall 'of Wire mesh material, although they may be made of perforated sheet metal. In the structure 'shown, the receptacles are provided with side wall reinforcing ri-bs or straps 21 of sheet metal as well as an upper ring =22 defining theopen upper end. Base ribs 23 are shown which extend across the bottomof the basket. The base -ribs23*of my dis- "closed baskets are of inverted-channel term aconstituting runners, These runners-23 are attached, preferably by spot welding, to the reinforcing ribs or straps 2| and the latter 'areattach'ed to the ring 22 by welding or'other suitable means.

For the purposeof preventing the accumulation of a thick air resistant mass or masses of oily rags or other material within a basket or baskets, have :provided the baskets with diametrically disposed, raised base portions 2-4 which are made orator-aminous material, such wire mesh of inverted -U -shape and located-above'and intermediate the runners or skids 23, as shown -in; These'members 2i,-inthe form thereotillus-trated; extend diametrically across the'bot- -tozns-of-the baskets-are secured-to the'sides'and bottoms of the basketsandare aeration aidsin thatthey increase thesurface areas of the masses ofrags in the baskets which are exposed directly -tothe-air flowing within the container. While but one such transverse raised unember i l is showndn each basket, more-may be provided if desired, or there may be-an arrangement of two of the same-disposed I transversely ofeach other-if -preterred. These raised formations 2-4 may-also be formed as raised integral portions or the.

basket bottoms.

Forsupporting the iower basket 2!] in the 1 contamer, two laterally spaced and .parallel rods -25 and 2-5 are utilized in mydisclosed embodiment.

These --r-ods extend through apertures provideddn the side wallsof the container Hi --and each, as

shown-in Fig. l, aring-shapedhandle i l "atone-end andeach, at the opposite -end,- is proyidedayithan apertnreli3 'fopreceivinga removable pin or key 2!) (see Fig. -1) which isattached for convenience and against loss-to the; exterior wallofthe container it by -a shortchain 30 01 like flexible member. As shown ind-Pig. 4,the-two rods and- 2sare disposed with their respective e'ndsoppositely arranged, whereby the-ring shaped handles'z'i of the rods are located on diametrically opposed sides of thecontairier. With the"rods '25 and-.26 inplace, and generall there is'l'no occasion forremoving-such' lower pair-of rods' except for providing unobstructed access to the interiorof thecontainer in cleansing the same, the lower basket ZUis supported by the rods above thebaseportidn of the containerlin the mann'e'r show n in Fig. 1. When-.-a second -basket is emplo'yed it is of constructionsimilar to the lower basket described herein, and is supported by a second pair of transverse rods 3i and 3'2 (see Fig. 1), similar to rods 25 and 26 but preferably arranged to extend transversely with respect thereto. The rods 3! and 32 may be secured in place by keys similar to the key 29 shown in Fig. 1, which, as will be obvious, permits the ready Withdrawal of the rods 3! and 32 after the upper basket'has been removed from the container "to enablethe lower basket likewise to be removed. In the use of the device illustrated, initially only the lower basket 29 will be in position within the container. When a workman wishes to dispose of an oily rag or rags, he remov es the cotter H and drops the rags into the basket; When the lower basket is full or filled to a desired extent, the second basket (if the container is of the two basket capacity shown) may :be placed in position after the rods 3| and 32 have been placed inposition, and subsequent rags dropped into the upper basket.

Should oil orother fluid drip :from the rags of thelower basket, it will drop into adrip pan-innit cated generallyby the numeral :33. Thedrip pan isprovided with a sheet metal'bottom .tdprovided with two .opposedoutwardly flaring side .walls 35, a similar end wall 85, and a forward wall 3l,the bottom and side walls being secured together to provide a :fi'uid holding pan. The front wall it! is of an area to overlap the receiving opening .in 'theside wall of the-container-and preferablyris provided with -a suitabl handle or hand grip -38 by which the pan may be' vwi-tholrawnirom the container; the pan, when in position within the container, beingsupported upon inverted chaznnel into-and out of position-withinthe container. As viewedin Fig.2, the bottom wall :34 .of the :pan

is shown as provided with two :pairs of spaced apart-guide strips 48 which embrace the rails-39 and-guide the pan-in its sliding movements and locate the .pan properly within the container.

The pan, as shown, is provided with a valve or drain cock I in the bottom wall for drainage pur- .poses when the lpanis removed .from the con-- tainer, the valve beingindicatedgenerally bytthe numeral H. In the form-showndn Fig. 3, the valvecomprises collarlor body .42 sealed in an opningin thebase 34 and having a: closure screw 43 which is. adapted to be screwed down :into a threaded passaga-for closing connected drainipassages 44 and 4% located close tothe uppersurrace of the base .34 and -.communicating through the pan-bottom. By retracting the.screw, .the passages will beopened-andthe accumulated fluid will flow from the pan.

When :the accumulationof refuse such. asoily rags is such that the oontaineristobe emptied,

baskets may alsobe removed fromithe .container and the drip pan withdrawn -and .the contents drained therefrom. "If Lthe scontainer is er -.such

size thatit is more desirableto transportitby "means of a conventional Qfactory truck having horizon-tall lifting;arma-sucharms. may -be passed beneath the container between the runners tor skids l3,.-elevated,..and .cartedinto, place: forrfdis- 1o charge of its contents. 'lVeh-i'cles .of .the lhoist typemaygrasp -thewloop handles 21 -.of L the .up-

-.-per .pair of rods-3l -;and32 which-are disposed diametrically opposite as are the hand1e's of the lower- -pair of rods orit-mayigrip the handles I8, if preferred.

.aecaoso The above described construction provides a container and receptacles or baskets for the oily rags through which air currents can pass, While at the-same time the masses of rags are protected againstdanger of ignition. The vertical strips or bumpers I! prevent displacement of a basket so far from a central position as to contact the inner surface of the container and thus close the contacted portion to the ingress of air or subject the contents to ignition from the exterior of the container. The ventilation afforded to the collected refuse reduces the likelihood of spontaneous combustion occurring.

For the purpose of providing forced ventilation of the contents of a container, especially a container of larger capacity, an opening may be provided in a side wall thereof intermediate two of the spacing ribs [1 for example. The opening is adapted to be covered by a removable panel 45,, as shown in Fig. 9, when forced ventilation is desirable; the panel being provided with a bracket providing a seat 46 for supporting an electrical motor 47 on the exterior of the container. On the shaft of the motor is mounted a fan 48, the shaft extending through an aperture in the panel 45 which has a foraminous or screened portion 49 for the free circulation of air therethrough as the fan operates. The fan'is provided with a suitable sheet metal guard indicated generally by the numeral 50 provided with air passages 5| therein. When the motor is running, the fan will move outside air through the foraminous section 49 of the panel 45 and through the perforations 5| in the panel 50, while some of the same will move upwardly through an outlet 52 and some downwardly through outlet 53. Some of the air thus circulated through the container will pass through the basket or baskets in the container for preventing dangerous temperatures within the accumulated refuse within the baskets. A panel 54, as shown in Fig. 4, having openings therein, but without the motor operated fan construction may be employed in lieu of the panel 45 in instances where the forced aeration of the contents of the receptacles is not necessary.

While we have shown and described a container for waste useable in numerous locations, we do not wish to be restricted to the details illustrated except as so limited by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A holder for used rags, inflammable refuse material and the like, comprising a cylindrical sheet metal container provided with louvered openings in the side walls to permit the lateral passage of air into and from the container, a removable imperforate cover for the container, a drip pan at the lower end of the container for catching fluid dripping from refuse above the pan, supporting means above the pan for a receptacle adapted to receive refuse deposited in the container when the cover thereof is removed, and an open top receptacle for refuse seated upon said supporting means and provided with foraminous side and bottom walls permitting free fluid therein to drip into said pan and for admitting passage into and from the receptacle of air flowing through the container for aeration of the receptacle contents.

2. A holder for used rags, inflammable refuse material or the like comprising a sheet metal container provided with a plurality of vertical rows of louvered openings in the side walls. to

posited in the container when the cover thereof is removed, circumferentially spaced vertical members in the container for spacing receptacles on said supporting means away from the inner surface of the container, an open top receptacle for-refuse seated upon said supporting means and provided with foraminous side and bottom walls so that free fluid in the refuse can drip from the receptacle into said pan and admitting passage into and from the receptacle of air flowing through the container for aeration of the receptacle contents.

3. A holder as defined in claim 2, and wherein said receptacle has a diametrically disposed raised base portion of foraminous material therein to provide for improved aeration of refuse material at the mid-portion of the receptacle.

' 4. A holder of the class described comprising a cylindrical sheet metal container provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical rows of louvered openings therein, a removable imperforate cover for the container, a laterally removable drip pan in the lower portion of the container for catching fluids dripping from waste material above thepan, a pair of rods above said pan extending transversely of the container for supporting thereon a waste material receptacle, vertical spacing members each disposed between adjacent rows of louver openings and secured to the interior of the container side wall for preventing contact of a receptacle with the inner Wall of the container, and a receptacle for waste material adapted. to seat on said rods above the drip pan and constrained ,by said spacing members against lateral shifting into contact with the container walls and comprising foraminous side and bottom Walls enabling fluid to drip from the contents into said drip pan and admitting passage into the receptacle of air flowing transversely of the container through said louver openings.

5. A refuse holder comprising a metal container provided with a side wall having openings therein for admitting the flow of air into and from the container, a removable cover for the container, said side wall being provided with an opening near the bottom thereof for receiving a drip pan slidable horizontally into and from the container, a drip pan in the container slidable horizontally into and from the same via said opening, supporting means carried by said side wall above saidv drip pan, a receptacle for refuse having a side wall and a bottom and adapted to be placed in the container upon said supporting means when said cover is removed, said receptacle having openings in the side wall and bottom through which free fluid in the refuse deposited in the receptacle can drip into the subjacent pan and through which openings in the side wall and bottom air flowing through the openings in the container side wall can pass for aerating the container contents, and means for spacing the receptacle from the inner wall of the container and into vertical alignment with the pin.

6. A refuse holder comprising a metal container provided with a side wall having openings therein for admitting the flow of air into and from. the container, as; removable mower .2601? we container, transverse su pportix'rg mansitfortsum porting a- "refuser-receptaele within themeontainer, a refuserec'eptacle rhavingo an npen'top' supported by the said means and open mesh: side and bottom walls'for aeration-cf the-montemts by air flowing through theopenings of theicontainer side walls, and "a. motor operated fannnit mounted on :the container side walls ifor produc ing movement of air throughwthehontainer ifior aeration of the receptacle contents.

'7. A refuse holder comprising a; metal container provided with a sidewall-(having openings therein for admitting the-flow of air into *and from the container, an-fimpertorate removable cover for the container, transverse supp rtin means for supporting a refuse receptacle within the container, a refuse receptacle shat/ ing an open top supported by said meansland having open mesh-side and bottom wallsfor aeration of {2b the contents by air flowing through'theopenings of the container side walls-said :-side wall of the container comprising a removable panel-section having a foraminous portion'and prouidedwith a motor support on the -exteriorandaioraminous fan guard on the interior, and amot'or-ian unit comprising a motor on saidsupport and; a Jfan within said guard -for inducing. the how of. an through the openings of-said panel into the container and through wall openings thereof for aeration of the receptacle contents.

8. A holder for used mags or the like .compri'sring a cylindrical-xsheetmetaihcontamerr provided with: :spaced vertical rows: or lowered: openings the walls to permit latenai message-of air :into :and irom the container; a removable cover for the container, acdrip mamat the lower endof the container fdr icatching fluid dripping .from-rrefuse above the ;pan,.tsupporting means above lthe- Epan ror 2a: foram'inous receptacle .for refuse deposited the container when the :cover thereof :is sremoved; and vertical. z'giiards lin' zth'ez GODtQti-TIBI :secured thereto 'sinterm'ediate: each of :the: adjacent rows of louver op'enings'rfor retaining-a receptacle in the container in nn-alignedcposition- :above the Pan;

JOHN- P.

JOSEPH MAGARINQS.

FRQHEBIBHCCS Citedin the'file of this patent U-i f'I-TED STATES Number Name Date I 5363773 A'tsatt Apr; 2, "I895 1,41'3,9cs Green Apr. 25,1922 1,752,797 Hutchinson, Jr Apr. 1,1930 1973;347' Kelly 'Seplt. 111,193; 2,060,065 G111 et a1 Nov. 10, 1936 2,308,398 Stevens Jan. 12,1943 '2,618;076 Miller 'Nov. 1 8;, 1952 SFGREIGN IPADENEIS Number Country' Date 3%,107 Great Britain Mar. 5; 1931 

